Themes and Symbols
Themes
Society's Superficial and Materialistic Views
In the novel, Lord Henry and the elite socialites do not care about the qualities that people possess.
They do not judge people by their morals and values, but rather by their appearance. They are extremely
shallow people by nature. When Lord Henry befriends Dorian, he starts to become one of them, and he is only accepted by the socialites due to his dashing good looks. They assume that he is a good person because he is physically attractive, not because he necessarily has a good heart. Basil warned Dorian of this when he first met Lord Henry, but Dorian did not listen. At the end of the novel, Dorian realizes the error of his ways.
Influence
Basil did not want Dorian to meet Lord Henry for he thought that he would be influenced negatively by him. Dorian thought this was a ridiculous idea. As it turns out, this panned out exactly as Basil had predicted. Dorian was greatly influenced by Lord Henry's theories on life and his idea of right and wrong. The yellow book given to him by Lord Henry as well as the painting of Dorian have a tumultuous effect on his life. Dorian develops an obsession for the book, driving him further out of touch with his true values and morals. Lord Henry understands what he has done to Dorian, and finds the power of influence very interesting. In the end, Dorian becomes a murderer and is a completely changed person, as shown by the aging of his portrait.
Youth and Beauty
The entire plot of the novel revolves around the idea that if Dorian becomes aged and unattractive, society will reject him and he will no longer will be pleased with himself. In the end, Dorian makes a pact with the devil, selling his soul in exchange for eternal youth. For this, he pays with his life. To compensate for the awful things he has done, Dorian indulges in the beautiful aspects of his life. He studies music, paintings, and literature. Finally, youth and beauty are the only two things Dorian has going for him, making for a very superficial way of life.
Symbols
Opium Dens
They represent Dorian's terrible mental state. He goes there to evade his feelings of guilt after killing his former friend Basil. This is a crucial moment in the plot, as it shows the true nature of Dorian's persona. Dorian does in fact have opium in his own home, but chooses to go to a desolate part of town to indulge in this vice, showing his overall deterioration.
The Yellow Book
Dorian receives the book from Lord Henry as a gift. Wilde does not reveal the title of the book, but we learn that it is about a man seeking pleasure and his adventures. This reinforces the hedonistic worldview within Dorian, and he becomes obsessed with the book, buying multiple copies. The book represents the influence that art may have over someone and how damaging it way ultimately be.
James Vane
This character represents Dorian's guilty conscience in regard to having caused Sibyl Vane's suicide. James is her vengeful brother who swore to kill Dorian. He makes Dorian realize that he is in fact responsible for the death of Sibyl.
